Before Bill Harrigan became a Rugby League Hall of Fame referee, he was standing between suicidal people and death. Before he controlled State of Origin brawls, he survived Molotov cocktails at Mount Panorama. This is the conversation that reveals the man behind the whistle.
In this raw and emotional episode, Bill shares stories he rarely tells - from the 24-hour suicide negotiation at The Gap, to the hardest door knock of his police career, to being hoisted on shoulders by 4,500 Papua New Guineans who thought they were going to kill him moments earlier.
We cover the Mount Panorama biker riots, the Mario Fenech incident that's haunted him for decades, why Ian Roberts had the best right hook in rugby league, and how a teacher forcing him to get a referee's ticket for $40 changed Australian sport forever.
Bill breaks down on mic talking about telling families their loved one jumped in front of a train. He explains why 99% of people threatening suicide don't actually want to die. And he reveals how sitting on a ledge and talking about South Sydney saved a man's life.
This isn't sanitized. This isn't corporate. This is Bill Harrigan unfiltered.
Topics Covered:
- NSW Police Tactical Response Group experiences
- Suicide negotiation techniques that actually work
- The biggest fights in NRL history
- How fate and $40 led to a Hall of Fame career
- Papua New Guinea's passionate rugby league culture
- The birth of Oztag and 200,000+ players worldwide
- Mental health, trauma, and finding purpose
Resources Mentioned:
Crisis Support:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
- Gotcha4Life: https://www.gotcha4life.org/
- Family of League: https://familyofleague.com.au/
Connect with Bill:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.harrigan.92
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-harrigan-a2933273/
- Oztag: https://oztag.com.au/ao/
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, violence, and police trauma. Listener discretion advised.
Guest: Bill Harrigan - Rugby League Hall of Fame Referee, Former NSW Police Officer (Tactical Response Group, Special Weapons and Operations Squad, Crisis Negotiator), Oztag Co-Founder
Categories: Sports, True Crime, Mental Health, Australian Culture, Rugby League
Tags: Bill Harrigan, NRL, Rugby League, Police Stories, Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, State of Origin, Oztag, Australian Legends, Crisis Negotiation
P.S. If you're one of the people Bill talked down - from Castle Road Street, The Gap, or Sydney Harbour Bridge - we'd love to hear from you. Let Bill know how you're doing.
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